A SECURITY VAN THAT FIGHTS BACK
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A HIGHLY complex security van developed bya. young r--N electronics engineer not only resists attack in many forms but -is designed to respond actively and to provide automatic protection of valuable cargo if the crew abandon the vehicle or are overpowered. Based on a standard Austin J2 van, the security vehicle has been designed and fitted out by Mr. Gerald Day, of Birmingham, and has an electronic "brain" with 36 relays and more than 100 transistors to control all the safeguards.
Cash is carried in up to 10 canisters released in pairs through bays in the body sides, and three locked switches in and outside the cab must be operated in sequence to open the bay doors. Then special • lifting handles chained to a waistbelt worn by the guard must be used to withdraw the canisters. which are held in the opening by extended plungers. Typical of the elaborateness of the precautions is that the waistbelt incorporates a resistor forming part of the electrical circuit. and only the correct ohmic value retracts the plungers and locks the handles in place.
Containers inside the van rest on conveyor belts which feed them forward in pairs in the order of the pre-arranged delivery schedule. An attempted break-in would buckle the bay open.ing and jam the canisters in position, while the other Canisters would then automatically be clamped to their support rails.
If the guard is assaulted while handling the boxes, and the chain-circuit is broken, pressure cylinders inside the canisters eject indelible dye foam to mark the cash.
The rear bullion compartment is protected by an interior shutter that drops with a high closing pressure if there is any disturbance, while if the vehicle is rammed all doors are electronically closed at once.
Automatic functions in case of attack include high-pressure air conditioning for the cab to counteract tear-gas or smoke for long periods, internal water jets to hinder flame cutters, and a multi-track tape recorder and radio transmitter to give audible alarm and transmit a warning to the police.
If bandits try to tow the van or push it into a furniture van, the air brakes lock on and chrome-steel bars shoot out from the sides to span nearly 12 ft,
Conversion has added about 750 lb. to the Austin's weight, and this includes a fair amount of armour in the form of a steel-asbestos-aluminium sandwich. Payload is also 750 lb.— or about Lim. in valuables. Cost of converting a van to this specification is reckoned at £3,500, which does not seem unreasonable for anyone who is this keen on protecting his loads.
The conversion is in the hands of Armatac (Security) Ltd.. 124 Albert Road, Birmingham, 12.